I have the Gitzo Mountaineer and Acratech Ballhead (for a combined price tag that made me whimper). I’ve been using them together for over 4 years with my Nikon D70 and now my Nikon D200. I think for the travel we do (mountaineering, backpacking, foul weather conditions) it is the best combination of weight, compactness, and performance. Because I’m not made of money, I use that tripod and ballhead in the kitchen too – works *fabulously*. I also have the 18-200 mm VR zoom lens and I rarely ever use the VR because most of my shots require exposures too long for that to be helpful.

That said, I don’t tote the tripod and bh with me into restaurants which are notorious for crappy lighting. I recently got a sunpack mini tripod pro plus B for something like $25. It’s as big as my hand when it’s folded down. Has a mini ballhead which sucks for something as ginormous as the D200 – i.e. it starts to slide. It will work with the D70 as long as I steady it with my hand (I know this seems backwards – using a tripod that won’t hold steady without my hand to hold it steady), but that’s what works to get a clean shot at a sushi bar I can only hold steady down to 1/8th of second handheld and that doesn’t cut it indoors.

Okay, that’s my 3 cents and I may give the gorilla a try for restaurant shots – but the Gitzo Mountaineer plus Acratech Ballhead is just about the most phenomenal combo to haul across a glacier and more! Consider the investment and then don’t look back. Oh – and I recommend RRS’s (Really Right Stuff) dovetail quick release dovetail clamps. You’ll never go back to what you had before. xxoo

thanks jen. 1/8th of a second. i’m impressed by your steady hand! -j

thanks for the update on Bri – all our thoughts and prayers are with her.